No hope for Hope hub
Monday, April 9th, 2012I've always been rather proud of the Hope hubs on Why?Bike, my 26" wheeled tourer that I bought second hand. Far more classy than common or garden Shimano ones I reckoned. Then this happened.
CycleSeven Page 3
My River Avon to River Avon cycleway
Saturday, April 7th, 2012My visit to 'Bespoked 2012' was actually the 'main dish' of a three-course cycling day. The 'hors d'oeuvre' had already been served very very chilled – a freezing, early morning ride to Salisbury train station to catch the 0730 departure to Bristol. The compensation was going to be a 'hot dessert' – my ride home in glorious sunshine. My plan was to use the Bristol and Bath railway path to reach Bath (not surprisingly), navigate the city centre, then ride the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath as far as Devizes before reaching home on back roads through the Pewsey Vale. In completing this ride and given that Bristol and Durrington (my home village) both have different River Avons, I may have inaugurated the Avon2Avon cycleway!
The dramatic flight of 16 locks at Caen Hill, Devizes – after 35 miles, my first real hill of the day.
My First 100 Mile Bike Ride
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012Magazines at various times have articles which suggest there are random things to do before you die/reach 50 etc. I have completed quite a few of the tasks that often appear (both legal and illegal) but one goal, which up to April 1st 2012 had eluded me, was to cycle 100 miles in a day. I came close last summer with an 89, but convinced I would get the chance to beat it another week I stopped. However, bad weather and sick children meant I didn’t get the chance to turn three figures on the bike computer in 2011.
Descending Nunburnholme hill
Chris had said he was leading the CTC 'B' group ride (appropriately Fool’s Day?) on April 1st to Malton and that it would be a good chance to break my one hundred mile duck, so I said that I would be there. I had planned for my normal café run on a Saturday as a ‘leg loosener’ but my ride partner was suffering from a large thumbprint on his head that his wife had left, so I went into Sunday morning a tad flat.
Bespoked 2 (the sequel) – more 'bike porn'
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hilary's post regarding Bespoked 2012. I too attended the show and her photos reminded me of some of the fantastic craftmanship that was on display. Melanie, my wife. took a different view, accusing me of ogling 'bike porn' again...charming! Rather than repeat much of Hilary's post (and because her photos are better than mine), I will simply add some pictures of some of the other items that caught my eye.
Continue reading Bespoked 2 (the sequel) – more 'bike porn' »
ManxCat dilly-dallies in the Dales
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012I had entered The Marcher Audax in Shropshire organised by Andrew Seabourne and was looking forward to the challenge, until my health got the better of me again. I tested a 200km on the island and miserably failed it. As the Marcher Lord is a 3,000m climb Audax, I swapped it for the 100km ride held on the same day. Sometimes things are sent to try us, and by the time the train got booked, I was unable to get the bike on the train as well.
So had to cancel the ride, but unable to get my ferry fees back, I thought I would DIY GPS in Yorkshire instead, then meet eldest daughter and the pair of us cycle home, as her Easter Hols were due.
Sooo... why not DIY GPS in Yorkshire!
Bespoked Bristol, The UK Handmade Bicycle Show
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
There's something special about a handmade bike. There is absolutely nothing wrong with factory built bikes but they just don't have that uniqueness, that personal touch, that sense of timeless British craftsmanship. I've no use for a handmade suit, my furniture is all flat pack, but a handbuilt bike is a luxury I can just afford – a thing of beauty made especially for me. Now in its second year, Bespoked Bristol offers a unique opportunity to see the work of both long established and up and coming framebuilders under one roof. Pegoretti from Italy and Winter Bicycles from Oregon were also present.
Continue reading Bespoked Bristol, The UK Handmade Bicycle Show »
No sign of Hockney but very fine cycling
Monday, March 26th, 2012
Cyclist approaching – the bridleway between Bishop Wilton and Fangfoss
After at least half a dozen visits to Hockney Country I thought this weekend we might at last have seen The Man. The weather was gorgeous – warm sunshine and almost windless: perfect for sitting at an easel to paint the English landscape. Sunday's big blue skies would not have suited Constable, who liked to paint clouds in his pictures, but it might have been ok for David Hockney. Perhaps his creative mind has moved on to something else or perhaps there's only so many ways you can capture the same hedge or clump of trees on an iPad. Chris and I speculated what we might say to Dave if we came upon him by the side of the road. We'd probably have just said hello and cycled past.
